What happens if you’ve done all you can to help prevent the airlines losing your luggage, but your bags still turn up missing? Here are some tips to get what you are entitled to as well as speed up the process of getting your luggage back to you. (more…)
According to the US Department of Transportation, approximately 98 percent of delayed luggage reaches its owner within a few hours. Still, over one million pieces of luggage were lost, delayed, or damaged in just May and June of 2007. If you’ve ever had your luggage lost en route, you know had it can disrupt your business trip or vacation. Here are some tips on avoiding having your luggage lost, even for a few hours: (more…)
If you’re a small business owner, travel expenses can be a heavy burden. Try the following tips to minimize costs. (more…)
When you are traveling often, you need to stay looking good and feeling fresh. Successful Style & Image, a company that specializes in image building, has created men’s and women’s refresher kitspackaged with everything you need to always look terrific. (more…)
Doing business in Vietnam? Consider booking a room at the Sheraton Hanoi hotel, voted “Vietnam’s Leading Business Hotel” in the World Travel Awards for 2007. The hotel was also praised as a good location for holding conventions.
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Alaska Airlines serves 55 destinations between the US, Canada, and Mexico and offers competitive pricing in many of the popular markets especially on the West Coast.
It can be hard to get Internet access from your laptop when you’re converting between different worldwide online systems. A new modem from Sony Ericsson aims to make it easier on you.
The MD300 is a compact tool which plugs right into your USB port. It’s pre-installed with all of the different tools and software that you need. When you get to where you’re going, you just plug in the MD300 and find your connection. The MD300 is the first USB modem that can connect to HSDPA, UTMS, EDGE and GPRS systems. This means you can get online from your hotel room in Japan, an Internet café in Prague or a in rural America.
If Apple didn’t come up with a groundbreaking technology breakthrough every few months, then many techies would have very little to live for. The Apple folk have done it again with the launch of the Mac OS X Leopard, which offers 300-plus new features. (more…)
It’s estimated that women now constitute nearly half of all the business travelers in America. Here are a few basic tips for women traveling alone on business.
Never tell anyone you are traveling alone: If you meet someone on the airplane, at the hotel or in a business meeting, never say you are traveling alone. If necessary, even lie and say you have other (male) business associates or your husband with you on the trip.
Look like your know where you are going: Criminals often prey on women who are lost or needassistance. Get directions ahead of time so you aren’t walking (or driving) around looking like you are lost. If you do actually get lost, stop for directions at a brightly lit, safe-looking restaurant or cafe rather than a dim-lit gas station.
Have someone from the hotel front desk walk with you: When you arrive at the hotel, ask someone from the staff to walk you to your room, and check inside before entering. Also have a person walk you to your car in the hotel parking lot at night.
Stay at a smaller hotel or inn: A bed and breakfast or boutique hotel may be a better option for women traveling alone. The hotel owners will know who is coming and going in the establishment and will notice if you have not shown up to breakfast or another activity.
Lock the windows and doors: When you are inside your hotel room, check to make sure the windows are locked. Bolt the door and do not open it unless you are expecting someone. Even then, look through the peep-hole to verify the identity of the visitor. Keep the curtains to your hotel room closed. When driving, be sure your car doors are locked and windows are rolled up.
Don’t leave a room service ticket on the outside of your hotel door: These forms indicate how many people are staying in the room. You do not want outsiders to know that you are staying alone.
Consider wearing a fake wedding ring: This could help to deter unwanted male attention. Register at the hotel as Mr. & Mrs. even though you don’t have anyone with you.
Check in often: Plan to call and check in with someone in your family or a business associate several times throughout the day and evening. This way everyone will be assured that you are safe.
A new job with travel benefits sounds exciting at first, until that first trip rolls around. Suddenly business travel isn’t so exciting and fun, it becomes stressful and demanding. To make your business trips a little more predictable and easier there are a few packing tricks you can use to help you establish a comfortable routine. (more…)
Everybody knows these days that when you fly, you increase the risk of getting a thrombosis, or blood clot in your veins. The combination of inactivity and being dehydrated mean that the risk of getting a DVT–deep vein thrombosis, usually in the leg– increase if you fly. (more…)
You’re traveling with co-workers–or the boss–and you’re not quite sure what rules apply. On the one hand, you’re out of the office on something like a vacation and you think that the etiquette might be relaxed a bit. On the other hand, you don’t want your co-workers remembering you as that guy who got hungover and puked all over the executive suite. It’s important to know the difference between relaxed and professional when traveling for business with others from the office. (more…)
If you’re a frequent traveler on Aer Lingus airlines, consider joining the Gold Circle Club.
Sign up online and when you accumulate 2,400 points within a 12 month period you’ll qualify for Gold Circle Club membership. If you earn 4,800 points within a 12-month period, you become eligible for Prestige status. Garnering 8,400 points will entitle you to membership at the Elite level.
Membership to the Gold Circle Club is available to all people ages 12 and older. Once you obtain Gold Circle Club membership, you are entitled to all the benefits and your application points will count towards free flights. Additionally, you’ll be eligible to use the lounges at most airports. Lounge access varies with your Tier Status in the club. As a member of the Prestige and Elite Gold Circle Club, you are entitled to entry at extra lounges.
Aer Lingus has built up quite the network of partners so it’s easy to accumulate points. As apart of the one-world alliance, you can earn points when you travel American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Lan Chile, and Quantas. When flying Premier Class on Trans-Atlantic routes, you will earn Bonus points that you can use towards flight redemptions. Additionally, when you book travel through chains like Jurys Doyle, Fitzpatrick Hotels, Killarney Royal, and Griffin Hotels you’ll also ear points.
Like to golf? You can earn points when you play at the Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, the K Club, and Fota Island Golf Club.
It’s important to note that the membership to the Gold Circle Club is subject to expiration. In order to remain an active member, you must earn at least 2,400 points in your 12 months of membership. If you don’t meet this criterion, you can retain your membership by redeeming 2,400 points from your account. Or, if you choose not to renew your membership, the points that you’ve accumulated will be valid for redemption for 12 months. Points only have a lifespan of 12 months, and are deducted from your account as soon as they expire. To get more information on Aer Lingus’ Gold Circle Club, visit www.aerlingusgoldcircleclub.com.
When you are traveling for business, it’s very important to be able to log onto the Internet and stay connected with clients, co-workers and associates. Here are some quick tips to help you stay connected while traveling.
Print out a list before leaving
You never know what’s going to happen during your travels that may deter you from getting online. So print out a list of important contact phone numbers, reservation numbers and other vital information before you leave.
Keep an eye on your laptop
When passing through airport security, oftentimes thieves are there preying on your luggage, looking to lift notebook computers, cellular phones and other portable electronic equipment. Stay alert and keep an eye on your equipment and luggage.
Look in the lavatory
If your laptop runs out of battery on the plane, look in the lavatory. Sometimes airplane bathrooms have an electrical outlet (intended for an electric shaver) that you can use in a pinch.
Buy a spare battery
You may need to use your laptop for periods longer than the life of one battery. If you have a spare, you can avoid the frantic search for an outlet to plug-in.
Bring your own ethernet cables.
If you are going to be needing ethernet cables for your computer at your hotel, don’t rely on the hotel-supplied cables. They are usually old and worn.